Beitostolen, Norway

The ultimate guide to Beitostolen ski holidays.

A safe bet for a quiet family holiday and heaven for cross country skiers, many consider this snug Scandinavian village their all-time favourite resort. The local pistes are quiet and reassuringly gentle - with more challenging terrain and oodles of non-ski activities just a hop, skip and a jump away.

A safe bet for a quiet family holiday and heaven for cross country skiers, many consider this snug Scandinavian village their all-time favourite resort. The local pistes are quiet and reassuringly gentle - with more challenging terrain and oodles of non-ski activities just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Beitostolen ski

Accom'AccommodationBeitostolen Holiday Accommodation

Beitostolen Ski Resort

Beitostølen (say it bait-oh-st-er-len) is one of seven resorts in Southern Norway’s Valdres region. On the edge of the dazzling Jotunheimen National Park (which translates to ‘Home of the Giants’ because of its soaring peaks), it’s a small village, set along a quiet main road and brimming with Scandi charm. Comprised of a handful of hotels, cabins, shops, well-loved bars and eateries, the selection isn’t overwhelming, but this is all part of Beito’s appeal as a peaceful, unintimidating resort.

Located immediately above the village, the ski area is equally intimate and welcoming to children, incorporating a special kid’s slope and the expansive Peppes snow park. More terrain can be found 10 minutes away at Raudalen on the western side of the valley. A regular bus runs between the two and there’s a free car park if you’ve brought your wheels.

XC skiing - the favourite Norwegian pastime - is by far the area’s specialty, with glorious park trails that have frequently been the venues of FIS cross country & biathlon world cups. It helps that snow is practically surer than in the Antarctic here – starting in the autumn and sticking around till May.

What Beito lacks in nightlife it more than makes up for in the uniqueness and variety of its activities, which range from snow “rafting” and air-boarding to climbing and winter horse riding. The friendly locals (you’ll struggle to find anyone who doesn’t speak excellent English) take great pride in their history and culture, so you’ll find plenty of handmade souvenirs, intriguing tours and local produce (the local cheese factory was the first in the country).

Snow Report

Top

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Base

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Forecast

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Web Cam

Downhill Runs:

20km

Beginner slopes:

62%

Intermediate:

12%

Advanced slopes:

25%

Lift Pass Price:

NOK 1,630 (adult 7 day)

Nearby resorts:

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Beitostolen

Ideal for first time skiers, the slopes around the village are mostly gentle and often deserted – with two long greens from the top of the Ola-Express (Knuteløypa and Frognerbakken), a handful of gentle blues (we like Stolheisbakken and Olabakken) and a couple of reds on either end of the area to aspire to.

The separate Barneland children's area, served by a super slow T-bar, allows little ones to pick up the basics undisturbed. Beito-Aktiv, the main ski school, is routinely recommended for its fun-loving, English-speaking instructors.

If you’re travelling with a mix of beginners and more advanced skiers, the ski pass also covers the slopes in the Raudalen ski area, where confident snow lovers can spend most of the week tackling red and black FIS-approved runs, bumps, and some seriously good off-piste.

If your group’s split between the two areas in the day, night skiing always makes for a fun reuniter, with the green and blue runs around the Ola-Express usually floodlit twice a week. You’ll also find rails, boxes and kickers of different difficulties in the Peppes Snow Park.

Cross country is where this place really comes into its own, with a whopping 320km of tracks winding into the glorious national park and an internationally acclaimed World Cup arena. Thanks to a variety of difficulty levels, those who want to have a go for the first time are well looked after and can progress miraculously quickly (Beito-Active run a number of XC courses). Even if you’re skiing Alpine-style by day, it’s worth trying the slender skis for size on the late night track that’s floodlit until 10pm.

Beitostolen Apres Ski

In a village that takes only about 5 minutes to cross, après in Beito is more laid-back than loud. It’s about hunkering down in one of the resort’s four friendly pubs, an ample measure of Gløgg in hand and an ear to one of the frequent live bands. That is, unless you’re here at Easter, when drinking spots are notorious for being as heaving as anywhere in Val or Verbier...

Arnold’s is without a doubt the most animated of the pub set – with a base-favouring DJ who’ll get the blood and the fists pumping. The nearby Svingen Pub is something of a Beitostølen institution; some of Norway’s finest artists come here to sing and strum and the staff will find you a new favourite beer from their collection of 50. Further up the mountain, Aasgaard Stogo is an authentic octagonal hut where spirits and beers flow throughout the day.

The best grub’s found down on the main road, where the slick Bare KOS is highly esteemed for signature dishes like monkfish and risotto and Caféen continually delights with Spanish small plates and exceptional coffee.

For all the fine food and drink, there are also plenty of engaging activities to get stuck into. Furry friends and modern gadgets feature heavily, with winter horse riding, reindeer sleigh rides and dog sledding, snow rafting, SMX snow biking, and snowmobile circuit racing (with mini snowmobiles for kids).

Best time to go

Best time to ski Beitostolen

When is the best time to ski Beitostolen?

Don’t let Beito’s low altitude deceive you, with over 200 days of snow a year and lifts frequently running into May, its snow record rivals some of the highest resorts in the Alps.

Norway may be relatively low as a country, but a special Scandinavian climate tends to draw plenty of snow, thanks to over 30 glaciers. The highest of the Norwegian peaks, Galdhøpiggen, sits in reach of Beitostolen, so you can bet your bottom krone that you’re going to find plenty of powder at any point in the season here.

Half Term in Beitostolen is known for being super quiet, letting you dedicate all of your week to quality time and exciting activities without a lamentable lift queue in sight.
Browse Beitostolen Half Term ski holidays ‣

Longer daylight hours over Easter in Beitostolen give you even more time on those gentle, snow-smothered slopes. As one of Beito’s liveliest times of year, the sun terraces should be bustling.
Browse Beitostolen Easter ski holidays ‣

Families in Beitostolen

Recognised as one of the most family-friendly resorts in the country, it’s somewhat surprising that Beito has remained so thoroughly quiet – you could hear a pin drop most days on the slopes at Raudalen, and for the majority of the season the wide greens, blues and reds above the village are far from busy.

These aren’t all that the area’s got going for kids: a 17 acre children’s’ playground sits in the village centre, alongside a toboggan run with a sledge draglift, and further out there are special snowmobile circuits with mini mobiles for kids. These join tonnes of animal-based pursuits like horse riding in the snow, husky sled tours, sometimes even rides in the beast that is resort manager Bjorner’s “piste-basher”…

A weekly family slalom race and floodlit greens around the Ola-Express are great activities for the clan to enjoy together, where sprogs can show off what they’ve learned. In recent years little ones under 7 have even skied for free.

Babysitting options are limited –but with the Beito-Aktiv running courses for squirts as young as 3, they’ll always be a chance for Mum and Dad to get away for a while.

GroupsGroup Holidays Beitostolen

Beitostolen might not have an enormous ski area or hedonistic nightlife, but groups will certainly feel at home in the small village, where the locals are known for their warm welcome.

Beginners can book lessons with Beito-Aktiv and potter about on the local pistes, while more confident skiers and snowboarders hop on the 10 minute bus to Raudalen for its challenging pistes and legendary powder. Night skiing is always a nice way to enjoy the slopes together – usually taking place on the easy runs around the Ola-Express a couple of times a week. If you’re a group of cross country skiers, welcome home: 320km of trails (including world cup routes, national park and floodlit facilities) and specialist classes from Beito-Aktiv make sure everyone’s catered for.

Après ski is centred around 3 main bars: Aasgaard Stogo, a huge mountain hut, Arnold’s with its big sun terrace and DJ and the Svingen for live music and beer (on last count they had 50 varieties).

It’s the other activities where this place really comes into its own. Snow rafting is an out-and-out must if you’re a group of thrill seekers - something we haven’t experienced in any other resort – while airboarding, husky rides and snowmobiling also make for hours of fun.

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